New Hanover employee arrested on drug, weapon charges

Published: Friday, June 14, 2013 at 2:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 14, 2013 at 2:16 p.m.

The land records supervisor for New Hanover County was arrested Thursday on drug, weapon and impaired driving charges. He is accused by authorities of pulling a gun on a woman and her son when the son confronted him for propositioning his mother.

William Franklin Oakes, 58, is being held on suspicion of two counts of assault by pointing a gun, two counts of trafficking opiates and one count each of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of maintaining a vehicle for use of a controlled substance, one count of trespassing and driving while impaired.

According to New Hanover Sheriff's Office Sgt. Jerry Brewer, a woman reported she was checking on property she owns on Acorn Branch Road about 8:15 p.m. Thursday when Oakes drove up in a Toyota Tacoma. When the woman approached him to see what he wanted, Brewer said, Oakes asked her to have sex with him.

Brewer said the 50-year-old woman quickly went back to her car, locked her door and called her 30-year-old son who arrived at the property a short time later.

Oakes was still there, sitting in his truck, Brewer said, and when the son asked Oakes how he could help him, Oakes displayed a weapon.

"He said, ‘I've got something for you and her,'" Brewer said.

Brewer said it was not immediately clear from the report if Oakes then stepped out of the vehicle, but the son was able to strike Oakes with enough force to knock him unconscious and secure the weapon.

When deputies arrived, Oakes was unconscious in the cab of the pickup, Brewer said.

A search of the truck uncovered a cache of prescription pain pills, Brewer said.

According to Charles Smith, county spokesman, Oakes has been employed in the tax department since 1990. He has been land records supervisor since 2001 and prior to that was the computer mapping/tax mapping supervisor

His salary is listed at $61,451.

"We have not had any communication with him as of yet, but we have been notified of the charges," Smith said.

<p>The land records supervisor for New Hanover County was arrested Thursday on drug, weapon and impaired driving charges. He is accused by authorities of pulling a gun on a woman and her son when the son confronted him for propositioning his mother. </p><p>William Franklin Oakes, 58, is being held on suspicion of two counts of assault by pointing a gun, two counts of trafficking opiates and one count each of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of maintaining a vehicle for use of a controlled substance, one count of trespassing and driving while impaired. </p><p>According to New Hanover Sheriff's Office Sgt. Jerry Brewer, a woman reported she was checking on property she owns on Acorn Branch Road about 8:15 p.m. Thursday when Oakes drove up in a Toyota Tacoma. When the woman approached him to see what he wanted, Brewer said, Oakes asked her to have sex with him. </p><p>Brewer said the 50-year-old woman quickly went back to her car, locked her door and called her 30-year-old son who arrived at the property a short time later. </p><p>Oakes was still there, sitting in his truck, Brewer said, and when the son asked Oakes how he could help him, Oakes displayed a weapon.</p><p>"He said, 'I've got something for you and her,'" Brewer said. </p><p>Brewer said it was not immediately clear from the report if Oakes then stepped out of the vehicle, but the son was able to strike Oakes with enough force to knock him unconscious and secure the weapon. </p><p>When deputies arrived, Oakes was unconscious in the cab of the pickup, Brewer said.</p><p>A search of the truck uncovered a cache of prescription pain pills, Brewer said. </p><p>According to Charles Smith, county spokesman, Oakes has been employed in the tax department since 1990. He has been land records supervisor since 2001 and prior to that was the computer mapping/tax mapping supervisor</p><p>His salary is listed at $61,451.</p><p>"We have not had any communication with him as of yet, but we have been notified of the charges," Smith said.</p><p>Oakes remained in jail Friday afternoon in lieu of $56,000 bond. </p><p><i></p><p>Staff writer Ashley Withers contributed to this report.</p><p>F.T. Norton: 343-2070</p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @FTNorton</i></p>